The Vasvári Pál Street Synagogue in Budapest’s 6th district, Terézváros (Vasvári Pál utca 5, 1061), buzzes as a hub for worship and Torah study. “This building was built for divine service and to honor the Torah by the leaders of Budapest’s Sász Chevra,” says Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, the synagogue’s leader and founder of Chabad (Chábád) in Hungary. “Sász Chevra means Talmud Association, so learning gets a huge emphasis here.” Known as the Sász Chevra Synagogue and home to the Budapest Talmud Association, it’s all about blending prayer with serious textual exploration in this vibrant spot.
Prayer Schedule
Daily rhythms keep the community connected. Weekdays from Sunday to Friday kick off with morning prayers (Shacharit) at 8:00 or 8:10. Thursdays stream the 8:10 morning prayer live on Zoom for remote followers. Fridays build anticipation: Mincha at 15:50, Shabbat welcome at 16:20 with Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, Kiddush and dinner upstairs at 17:10 with him, then a study session at 18:00. Note that Shabbat welcome and Kiddush shift to 18:00 from November through winter. Saturdays start strong with morning prayers at 9:15 led by the rabbi, followed by Mincha at 15:30, the third Shabbat meal (Seudah Shlishit), a Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) study session, and evening Maariv prayers with him—another Maariv wraps up at 16:40.
Weekly Lectures and Classes
Dive deeper with regular sessions. Mondays from 21:00 to 22:00, explore the Book of Samuel with Gyuri Szabó. Thursdays offer lessons in the Hebrew language of the liturgy with Rabbi Baruch Oberlander from 19:30 to 21:00, then Gyuri Szabó discusses the current weekly Torah portion from 21:00 to 22:00. Fridays from 17:00 to 18:00 continue the weekly portion study with Gyuri Szabó, flowing right into Shabbat welcome and prayers.
Monday Night Specials: Kabbalah and Talmud
Every Monday, Rabbi Baruch Oberlander hosts Kabbalah classes at 19:00, inviting everyone to unpack mysticism at the Vasvári Synagogue. Right after, at 20:00, join his weekly Talmud study, where the group translates and analyzes Talmud texts together for insights into rabbinic thought. These sessions run through spring and summer 2026—mark your calendars for March 30 (both Kabbalah and Talmud), April 6 (both), April 13 (both), April 20 (both), April 27 (Talmud then Kabbalah), May 4 (Talmud then Kabbalah), May 11 (both), May 18 (both), May 25 (Talmud then Kabbalah), June 1 (Talmud then Kabbalah), June 8 (both), June 15 (both), June 22 (both), June 29 (both), and July 6 (Talmud). It’s a steady rhythm of spiritual growth, all in Budapest’s heart at this historic site built for prayer and perpetual learning.
Whether you’re local in Terézváros or tuning in online, the synagogue at Vasvári Pál utca 5 offers a welcoming space to pray, eat, study, and connect. Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, with his Chabad (Chábád) roots, ensures every visit leaves you enriched—from Friday dinners to late-night Talmud dissections. No experience needed; just show up and dive in. This 2026 lineup promises non-stop engagement for seekers of all levels.
